Pipe Flow Rate
Calculator
Results
- Flow rate (m³/s)
- 0.00057
- Flow rate (L/min)
- 34.211943
- Air flow (m³/h)
- 2.052716
- Pipe cross-section (m²)
- 0.00038
HVAC and plumbing results
| Flow rate (m³/s) | 0.00057 |
| Flow rate (L/min) | 34.211943 |
| Air flow (m³/h) | 2.052716 |
| Pipe cross-section (m²) | 0.00038 |
formula-map diagram
- Flow rate (m³/s)
- 0.00057
- Flow rate (L/min)
- 34.211943
- Air flow (m³/h)
- 2.052716
- Pipe cross-section (m²)
- 0.00038
HVAC and plumbing relationship
Formula
Q = v × π × (D ÷ 2)²= 0.00057019906662655
Note
This is a simplified model: it applies a standard engineering formula to the numbers you entered. Conversions between BTU/h and kW use the exact factor 1 kW = 3412.142 BTU/h, but every sizing figure is an estimate. Air conditioner sizing uses the common 20 BTU/h per square foot rule of thumb, not a room-by-room load calculation, and it ignores insulation, glazing, orientation, ceiling height, infiltration and local climate. Heating loads use a single volumetric heat-loss factor in W/m³·K rather than a fabric-by-fabric U-value calculation. Air properties are fixed at 1.2 kg/m³ and water at 1000 kg/m³ and 4186 J/kg·K, with no correction for temperature, altitude or glycol. Duct and pipe results use the ideal continuity equation and ignore fittings, bends, roughness and system effect unless you enter those losses yourself. The Hazen-Williams equation is valid only for water in full turbulent flow at ordinary temperatures. Water hammer uses the Joukowsky surge, an upper bound for instant closure. Tank drainage assumes a prismatic tank and steady free discharge. Hot water recovery and condensate figures ignore standing losses and coil bypass. Size real systems with a proper heat-loss survey and have the work checked by a qualified HVAC or plumbing professional.
More in HVAC and plumbing
See all →Frequently asked questions
How is flow rate related to pipe size and water velocity?+
Flow rate equals the pipe's cross-sectional area multiplied by the average velocity of the water moving through it. For a fixed velocity, a larger diameter pipe carries significantly more flow because area increases with the square of the radius.
What's a reasonable water velocity to design around?+
Domestic plumbing is commonly designed for velocities around 1-2.5 meters per second (roughly 3-8 feet per second); much higher velocities increase noise and erosion risk, while much lower velocities may indicate an oversized, wasteful pipe.
Why would I calculate flow rate instead of just measuring it?+
During design, before the system is built, you need to predict flow rate from the pipe size you're planning to install to confirm it will deliver enough water to fixtures or equipment — measuring only becomes possible after installation.
Does increasing pipe diameter always proportionally increase flow rate?+
No — because cross-sectional area scales with the diameter squared, increasing diameter has an outsized effect on capacity. Going from a 1/2 inch to a 3/4 inch pipe roughly doubles the flow capacity at the same velocity, not just increases it by 50%.
How does this relate to whether a pipe can supply multiple fixtures at once?+
Each fixture has a typical demand flow rate; comparing the pipe's calculated capacity against the sum of simultaneous fixture demands tells you whether the pipe is adequately sized or will cause pressure drops when multiple fixtures run together.